Attention to detail and commitment to building the best bespoke racing bicycles in the world is central to the Passoni culture. They use only the highest quality alloys, in vacuum welding. To cut the tubes and weld the frame takes a full day, and two full days to sand and polish a frame. Even with this kind of labor-intensive process, these Makers manage to produce 400 bicycles a year and a customer wait time of only 18 months.
Luciano Passoni, founder of the most sought-after titanium framed bicycles in the world, was born and raised in Bernareggio, outside Milan. Bike racing was a favorite pastime of his growing up and rooted deep in his psyche. His inspiration came when he saw a custom-built frame that was very oddly shaped, made by Amelio Riva. Luciano wanted to partner with Amelio but this didn’t work out, so he sent his son Luca to train with Amelio in the design and development of titanium frames. After five years, the first successful Passoni prototype was unveiled at the 1989 EICA show in Milan and 23 years later, Passoni has a global following.
Today, Luciano’s widow Silvia Gravi and banker, biker, business partner Matteo Cassina have taken the handlebars of Passoni, pushing the shop to new heights. We asked Matteo for the ‘Alpine DNA’ in this Milano suburb, he replied simply, “Why do you think we close at 4pm? The guys want to go cycling after work!”
For all bike enthusiasts among you, our recommendation for cycling, style, passion, tips and a good read is definitely the Rouleur magazine and website.
JOURNAL. What you might want to know…
Doing something by hand can change a lot. Buying something handmade out of conviction can do the same. It changes – or has already changed – the way we think. Especially when it comes to our food. What do we buy? Who made it? What can we perhaps grow ourselves? How do our actions and decisions change, first ourselves, then our purchases, then the landscape?
Every sourdough – that culture of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in a mixture of flour and water – is unique, like a fingerprint, because in every region there are individual bacteria in the air that give each loaf its very own flavour. One person who knows more about the infinite variety of sourdough cultures than most – whose culture is culture, so to speak – is the Belgian Karl De Smedt, keeper and archivist of Europe’s only sourdough library.
It’s virtually impossible to miss Julius Brantner Brothandwerk if you’re a fan of baked goods and find yourself in Munich. The charming Swabian baker has recently opened his second location, the first being such a success. With his team working transparently behind large glass windows, Julius strives to make “honest and trustworthy handling of all ingredients and processes accessible,” he says. Unsurprisingly, locals and tourists flock to the shopfront to sample their aromatic bread and delectable treats.
SHOP. Our latest releases….
FINDER. Find your maker…
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Optimist Coffee, located in Upper Bavaria, is dedicated to quality and sustainability in coffee. They source high-quality, transparently traded beans, pay fair prices to establish long-lasting relationships with producers. High-tech...
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Optimist Coffee, located in Upper Bavaria, is dedicated to quality and sustainability in coffee. They source high-quality, transparently traded beans, pay fair prices to establish long-lasting relationships with producers. High-tech roasting ensures precision, with an optical color sorter guaranteeing top
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Laura Blanke, the visionary behind Laura Living, offers rustic cutting boards and chopping blocks crafted from oak. Influenced by Japanese woodwork and driven by sustainability, her pieces are knife-friendly and...
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Laura Blanke, the visionary behind Laura Living, offers rustic cutting boards and chopping blocks crafted from oak. Influenced by Japanese woodwork and driven by sustainability, her pieces are knife-friendly and unique, preserving each tree’s DNA. These kitchenware items go beyond
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Acquerello, one of Italy’s premier rice brands, offers a 500-gram tin can of Carnaroli rice, sourced from rice paddies in Vercelli, Italy. With a patented process, they reintegrate the lost...
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Acquerello, one of Italy’s premier rice brands, offers a 500-gram tin can of Carnaroli rice, sourced from rice paddies in Vercelli, Italy. With a patented process, they reintegrate the lost germ into the grain, creating creamy and nutritious risotto rice.
Makers Bible Crafting Cuisine inspires those who love to spend time in the kitchen, cook with hand and heart, try new things and celebrate a
Martin Schönleitner is one of 17 fishermen at Lake Chiemsee. Together with wife Verena Stephan they both run Chiemseefischerei Stephan, a family business for 400 years. Their ancestors had started their venture at Lake Constance. For three generations (at the present site) the Stepahn family lives and fishes at Lake Chiemsee, Prien am Chiemsee to be precise.
The tailor-made suit is still considered the highest-quality and most individual version of the garment. German men’s tailors work in the awareness of covering a particularly wide range of the demands their profession places on them.
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